Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Federal Government has filed a five-count charge against activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, after he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in a viral social media post. The case, lodged before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also drags X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (owners of Facebook) into the dock as second and third defendants. The charges were entered through the Director of Public Prosecutions, M. B. Abubakar. Sowore’s Viral Post and DSS Reaction Sowore’s controversial post came on August 25, shortly after President Tinubu claimed during an official visit to Brazil that his administration had…

Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has explained why he crossed over to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is part of a wider opposition coalition to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. The 2023 candidate, who ran against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared that he is “better prepared” to take another shot at Lagos Government House. Rhodes-Vivour stressed that his defection was not a betrayal of Labour Party but a strategic alliance, as the LP itself is split into factions. According to him, the ADC was adopted as the umbrella…

One major criticism of Nigeria’s political parties has been the lack of internal democracy and weak political education among members, many parties are often seen as election vehicles rather than institutions that groom leaders; but the Labour Party (LP) says it wants to change that narrative. On Monday, LP National Chairman Julius Abure announced plans to establish a Labour Party Democratic Institute in Abuja. The proposed institute, he said, will provide structured political training for members, party agents, and aspiring politicians, while promoting civic engagement across the country. Abure revealed this when he received a delegation from the International Republican…

The Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, which lasted from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970, ended with both sides agreeing to a “no victor, no vanquished” order. However, the traumatic memories and painful remnants of the conflict still haunt the Igbo people, particularly the families who lost loved ones and breadwinners during those 30 months of violence. In the aftermath, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) emerged as a response to the failures of leadership and the Igbo people’s yearning for national reintegration and renewal. These aspirations stemmed from the oppressive behaviors and anti-people policies of previous governments, compounded by the…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has called on Nigerians to fully support the various economic reforms being implemented under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.  He equally urged the people to give their backing to the reserved seats bill that is currently before the national assembly. Kalu made the appeals when he met with the 2025/2026 Cohort of Nigerians at the Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America over the weekend. Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of backing the reforms, saying they are aimed at driving economic…

The Niger State Government has introduced a new policy that requires all preachers to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them in public. Governor Umar Bago announced the move during an appearance on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, saying the step is necessary to curb inciteful or harmful messages that could threaten peace. According to him, the state is not banning evangelism but wants to ensure that religious messages do not promote division or anti-government sentiments. “Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done,” Bago noted. Why the New Sermon Approval Policy? Nigeria has in recent years witnessed cases where inflammatory…

The sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has appealed to residents to put aside bitterness, rivalry, and self-interest in order to sustain peace and development. He made the call on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt, to mark the state’s transition back to democratic governance following the recent local council elections. Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March during the six-month emergency rule, said the state had been plagued by “divisions, instability and broken trust” before the intervention. He noted that his administration deliberately sowed “seeds of love and peace”…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to faith leaders to work with his administration in building a stronger economy and tackling poverty. Speaking at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Tinubu said religious organisations remain “a vital bridge for peace, unity and moral renewal.” Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu pledged closer collaboration with faith-based institutions in education, healthcare, skills training and social welfare. Government Reforms and Economic Challenges The President noted that his government’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and efforts to block…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Mrs Nancy Sabanti Nathan as the Acting Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The appointment follows the death of Mrs Grace Adayilo, who until last week Monday served as the FCTA Head of Service. According to a statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Nathan will hold the position in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Service. Before her new role, Nathan was the Permanent Secretary of the Youth Development…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has warned governments at all levels against reckless borrowing, stressing that debt must serve development, not consumption. Abbas, represented by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, spoke at the opening of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) annual conference in Abuja. He said strong parliamentary oversight is key to safeguarding Nigeria’s financial future. Abbas raised concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, noting that the country’s total public debt climbed to N149.39 trillion (US$97 billion) in Q1 2025. This marks a sharp increase from N121.7 trillion in 2024. He added that Nigeria’s…